Lin Yan1,2,3, Yu Lan2, Jing Xiao2, Lin Lin2, Bo Jiang2, Yukun Luo4,5. 1. Medical School of Chinese PLA, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Haidian District, Beijing, China. 2. Department of Ultrasound, First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Haidian District, Beijing, China. 3. Health Management Center, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, No. 467 Zhongshan Road, Shahekou District, Dalian, China. 4. Medical School of Chinese PLA, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Haidian District, Beijing, China. lyk301@yeah.net. 5. Department of Ultrasound, First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Haidian District, Beijing, China. lyk301@yeah.net.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) in a large population. METHODS: From June 2014 to December 2017, 414 patients (323 females, 91 males, mean age 43.56 ± 9.79 years, range 18-73 years) with unifocal low-risk PTMC confirmed by core-needle biopsy (CNB) were treated by RFA. Patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months and every 6-12 months thereafter by ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). The volume and the volume reduction ratio (VRR) were calculated. Recurrence and lymph node or distant metastasis were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean initial volume was 92.74 ± 83.43 mm3 (range 4.19-490.07 mm3), which decreased significantly to 1.37 ± 7.94 mm3 (range 0-67.97 mm3) at a mean follow-up time of 42.15 ± 11.88 months (range 24-69 months) with a mean VRR of 98.81 ± 6.41% (range 50-100%). No life-threatening or delayed complications occurred. After RFA, 366 tumors (88.41%) completely disappeared. The overall incidence of local tumor progression rate was 3.62%. Among them, one patient (0.24%) was diagnosed to have residual cancer by CNB and underwent additional RFA. Four patients (0.97%) developed metastatic lymph node, and 10 patients (2.42%) had recurrent PTMC. A total of 13 patients underwent additional RFA, and 11 lesions completely disappeared during the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: RFA is an effective and safety treatment for low-risk PTMC after a long-term follow-up period for a large cohort with careful patient enrollment evaluation. KEY POINTS: • Radiofrequency ablation is an effective and safe alternative for low-risk PTMC. • The overall incidence of local tumor progression rate was low. • No life-threatening or delayed complications occurred.
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) in a large population. METHODS: From June 2014 to December 2017, 414 patients (323 females, 91 males, mean age 43.56 ± 9.79 years, range 18-73 years) with unifocal low-risk PTMC confirmed by core-needle biopsy (CNB) were treated by RFA. Patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months and every 6-12 months thereafter by ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). The volume and the volume reduction ratio (VRR) were calculated. Recurrence and lymph node or distant metastasis were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean initial volume was 92.74 ± 83.43 mm3 (range 4.19-490.07 mm3), which decreased significantly to 1.37 ± 7.94 mm3 (range 0-67.97 mm3) at a mean follow-up time of 42.15 ± 11.88 months (range 24-69 months) with a mean VRR of 98.81 ± 6.41% (range 50-100%). No life-threatening or delayed complications occurred. After RFA, 366 tumors (88.41%) completely disappeared. The overall incidence of local tumor progression rate was 3.62%. Among them, one patient (0.24%) was diagnosed to have residual cancer by CNB and underwent additional RFA. Four patients (0.97%) developed metastatic lymph node, and 10 patients (2.42%) had recurrent PTMC. A total of 13 patients underwent additional RFA, and 11 lesions completely disappeared during the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: RFA is an effective and safety treatment for low-risk PTMC after a long-term follow-up period for a large cohort with careful patient enrollment evaluation. KEY POINTS: • Radiofrequency ablation is an effective and safe alternative for low-risk PTMC. • The overall incidence of local tumor progression rate was low. • No life-threatening or delayed complications occurred.
Authors: Ralph P Tufano; Pia Pace-Asciak; Jonathon O Russell; Carlos Suárez; Gregory W Randolph; Fernando López; Ashok R Shaha; Antti Mäkitie; Juan P Rodrigo; Luiz Paulo Kowalski; Mark Zafereo; Peter Angelos; Alfio Ferlito Journal: Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) Date: 2021-06-24 Impact factor: 5.555